Suction device

Abstract

The invention relates to a suction device for suctioning liquids, comprising a suction element, which is provided with at least one suction opening for receiving the liquid, and a pump which is connected to the suction element and which is equipped to generate a suction vacuum in the suction element, wherein a control device and at least one sensor which is connected to the control device are provided, wherein the control device is equipped to influence the suction power acting at the suction opening dependent on the signals received from the sensor. The object of the invention is to provide a suction device for suctioning liquids, said device working with greater efficiency than known suction devices. Additionally, there is a requirement in the medical field to provide a medical suction device which to the greatest possible extent prevents the damage that occurs to blood components during automatic operation. This object is achieved by the fact that the sensor is designed as an acoustic wave sensor. The acoustic wave sensor is equipped to detect acoustic waves which are generated by the suction element during the operation thereof.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A suction device for suctioning liquids, comprising:
 a suction element, which is provided with at least one suction opening for receiving the liquid; 
 a pump which is connected to the suction element and which is equipped to generate a suction vacuum in the suction element; 
 a control device; and 
 at least one sensor which is connected to the control device, 
 wherein the control device is equipped to influence suction power acting at the at least one suction opening of the suction element dependent on signals received from the sensor, 
 wherein the at least one sensor is an acoustic wave sensor which is equipped to detect acoustic waves which are generated by the suction element, wherein an output signal of the at least one sensor is fed to a preamplifier and then to a noise gate which provides an adjustable delay and an adjustable response threshold so as to establish an acoustic wave intensity and an acoustic wave duration starting from which the suction power is to be influenced by the control device. 
 
     
     
       2. The suction device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device and/or the at least one sensor are equipped to detect at least one predetermined characteristic acoustic wave pattern on the basis of the detected acoustic waves and, when such a characteristic acoustic wave pattern is detected, to cause a change to the suction power acting at the at least one suction opening. 
     
     
       3. The suction device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the control device is equipped, upon detection of the predetermined characteristic acoustic wave pattern, to cause a reduction to the suction power acting at the at least one suction opening. 
     
     
       4. The suction device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on the suction element, on a suction side of the pump, on a connection between the suction element and the pump, or in the suction element, in the pump or in the connection there between. 
     
     
       5. The suction device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein acoustic waves in a the frequency range above 11 kHz are detected by said at least one sensor as characteristic acoustic wave patterns. 
     
     
       6. The suction device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein acoustic waves in a frequency range of up to 50 kHz are detected by said at least one sensor as characteristic acoustic wave patterns. 
     
     
       7. The suction device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a piezoelectric sensor, which is secured on the suction element. 
     
     
       8. The suction device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor is freely oscillating at least in part on the suction element. 
     
     
       9. The suction device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one adherence-suction sensor connected to the control device, to the suction element, to the pump or to a connection there between, in such a way that an adherence suction of the suction element is registered. 
     
     
       10. The suction device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the adherence-suction sensor is connected to the control device, wherein the control device is equipped to register a signal from the adherence-suction sensor and, upon detection of an adherence suction of the suction element, to reduce the suction power acting at the at least one suction opening by switching off, for a predetermined time, the suction power acting at the at least one suction opening. 
     
     
       11. The suction device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the control device actuates a valve device in phases of the reduction or switching-off of the suction power acting at the at least one suction opening, wherein the valve device, when opened, connects the at least one suction opening of the suction element to a liquid source. 
     
     
       12. The suction device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the adherence-suction sensor is a pressure sensor which is connected to the suction element, to a suction side of the pump or to a connection therebetween, in such a way that the vacuum generated by the pump can be registered, and the control device is equipped to evaluate the pressure registered by the adherence-suction sensor and to detect an adherence suction of the suction element when a predetermined pressure value is not reached and/or when a time profile of a pressure typical of an adherence suction is detected. 
     
     
       13. The suction device as claimed  claim 9 , wherein the adherence-suction sensor is a current sensor which detects current consumption of an electric motor which drives the pump, and wherein the control device is equipped to evaluate the current registered by the sensor and to detect an adherence suction of the suction element when a predetermined current value is exceeded and/or when a time profile of current typical of an adherence suction is detected. 
     
     
       14. The suction device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the suction power acting at the at least one suction opening is effected by influencing the pumping power of the pump, by switching in a bypass, by at least partially shutting off the suction element or a connection of the suction element to the pump, and/or by changing or closing the at least one suction opening. 
     
     
       15. The suction device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said suction device is configured as a medical suction device for suctioning blood and/or other body liquids during a surgical intervention.